Although we hear actors complaining or bragging about their sacrifices for their art on a daily basis, we don’t often see someone going the extra mile like Matthew McConaughey has done of late.

The curly-haired Texas native that no one took seriously until a couple of years ago has had to lose no less than 38 pounds for his “Dallas Buyers Club” lead role, endangering his health, well-being and hunky figure for a low-budget, indie movie.

Fortunately for McConaughey, it seems his efforts have not been in vain, as the real life-inspired drama has been acquired by Focus Features. The distribution arm of Universal Studios is apparently planning to launch the film during the second half of 2013 in what could be a bid for next year’s Oscar race.

Focus is no stranger from pushing small movies in wide theater releases and on critics’ radars, distributing “Moonrise Kingdom” and “Anna Karenina” in 2012, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” in 2011 and “The Kids Are All Right” one year before.

Sure, the studios have had their fair share of duds lately, including Tina Fey and Paul Rudd’s “Admission” and “Promised Land”, but something tells us that’s not the destiny of “Dallas Buyers Club”. The film, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (“The Young Victoria”), also stars Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Steve Zahn and Denis O’Hare. Did you ever think McConaughey would have a real shot at an Oscar nod? I know I didn’t.